Media Watch - Dec 21
Top Birmingham City Council Stories
Chapter closes as battle to keep Central Library is lost (Birmingham Mail, BBC) A last-ditch attempt to save Birmingham’s Central Library was unanimously rejected by planners.
Keep on rocking (Birmingham Mail) An apartment development which could have threatened the existence of one of Birmingham’s premier music venues (The Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath) has been rejected by council planners.
Canal ‘left out’ of regeneration plan (Birmingham Mail) A developer and supermarket giant have been accused of going back on pledges to regenerate a potentially beautiful canal in Selly Oak as part of a scheme for student accommodation and a retail park.
Rethink over travel plans for schools (Birmingham Mail) Birmingham’s education watchdog committee has told the council to reconsider plans to cut free travel for hundreds of school pupils.
£16m revamp for city tower block (Birmingham Mail) The building currently home to Snobs nightclub and Athens Greek restaurant is to be transformed into a hotel, restaurant and apartments.
Regional Headlines
Dead pedestrian named by police
A pedestrian who died after he was struck by a car in Wolverhampton city centre is named by police.
London Midland told to compensate delayed passengers
Train passengers hit by weeks of cancellations and delays because of a London Midland (LM) driver shortage are set to be offered free travel.
National Headlines
Call for tougher banking reforms
Government plans to separate banks’ retail businesses from their investment arms “fall well short of what is required”, the Banking Commission warns.
TV weatherman in abuse probe raid
TV weather presenter Fred Talbot’s home is searched by police investigating allegations of historical child sex abuse.
